2nd bedroom, vestibule.

Xiong Ren stood bent over, only feeling uncomfortable, and secretly glanced at Cao Song who was on top. Today, Cao Song is resting, and he doesn't need to go to the yamen on an errand.

Since a few days ago, when Du Tian was troubled, Xiong Ren has been a little uncertain. It wasn't until he followed the big housekeeper of Xifu to the yamen a few times and closed the matter that he was relieved.

In addition to Xiong Ren, the second manager, Yu An, the general manager of Dongfu, and several head managers, shop managers, and Zhuang heads were all there, standing in half the room.

Those who can survive the identity of the steward are all old men in the second room, and they know that Cao Song, the master, is not good-tempered. Cao Song's surname is irritable, and he is famous when he is young, but because he follows Cao Hao and is tied by his brother, he is not obvious.

Cao Song sat on the main seat, with a dark face, and looked at the people in front of him coldly. Xiong Ren secretly complained in his heart, knowing that he respected his wife's life and disobeyed the second master, he was afraid that it would be difficult to fool the past.

Unexpectedly, Cao Song didn't look at him, but said slowly: "Which one is Bai Er?" ”

Bai Er is the manager of the drum tower shop, because of his young age and young qualifications, he originally stood in the second row. Hearing Cao Song's question, he bowed two steps forward and said, "The younger one is Bai Er, and I have seen the second master." ”

Cao Song looked at him twice, turned to Yu Andao, "Is he your nephew?" I heard that you recommended it to your wife? ”

Yu An also watched Cao Song grow up, how could he not see that the second master was abnormal, and said stubbornly: "It's the little one who gave it to his wife, he was originally on an errand in the front yard and was responsible for the errand of purchasing." ”

Cao Song snorted coldly and said, "Come on, pull this rebellious Diao slave down and beat fifty boards." ”

Not only Bai Ermeng, but even Yu An was confused. I thought that the second master was going to clean up Xiong Ren for the things of the previous few days, but why did he pull it on Bai Er.

"Second master, the little one is wronged, the little one doesn't dare......" Bai Er was still obedient, knelt down, and said.

"'Wronged', 'dare'?" Cao Song sneered twice and said, "The master has already ordered to collect two shops, and if you delay until this effort, you dare to shout injustice?" Is it a fart if you are a master? Give the lord a beat. ”

Bai Er still wanted to cry out for injustice, he was the nephew of the big housekeeper, and the person who dragged him down didn't dare to be too embarrassed.

Seeing this, Cao Song only felt half angry, and pointed at Bai Er: "Just beat in the yard, if you don't beat this slave to the point of blooming, you will accompany the fifty boards!" ”

With this sentence, who dared not to care, stuffed a walnut into Bai Er's mouth, and pulled it down to "crack" and began to wheel the board.

Yu An only felt that cold sweat broke out in his head, he was really indefensible, and he already regretted it in his heart. Although this Bai Er is his nephew, he was raised as a son, thinking about being an errand for a few years, and learning housekeeping with himself.

Fifty boards, that is, half a cup of tea.

Because he saw Cao Song annoyed, no one dared to show mercy, so he took down the white twenty or fifty boards and lay there and hummed.

Cao Song glanced at it and said to An: "Dismissed the errand of his shop manager, punished as a miscellaneous worker, and he was not allowed to make up the errand for three years." ”

Although Yu An felt that he had lost face, he didn't dare to ask at this time, so he bowed down and said, "Yes, master, the little one has written it down." ”

The people in the hall gloated, the rabbits died and the foxes were sad, and the ghosts were pregnant, all kinds of stomachs.

Cao Song didn't bother to pay attention to it, and his eyes fell straight on Xiong Ren. Xiong Ren didn't dare to raise his head, in front of his wife, he could still defend two sentences, in front of this reckless second master, there was no way to reason. only shouts grievances in his heart, and his wife speaks, what can he do as a slave?

"I don't have a good surname from my uncle, and I won't slap him and give a sweet date. Ye knows who is a useful slave and who is disobedient. Cao Song sneered: "Who is the master in this mansion?" You all have a lot of skills, you dare to fool what the master says, what else don't you dare? Pull it down, hit fifty boards, and teach a long lesson first. ”

This Bai Er can fight, but this Xiong Ren is an old man in the house, and he is still the second housekeeper. Even if Yu An was expecting him to be beaten, he had to put on a pretending on his face, and bowed down to persuade: "The second master is angry, and the second housekeeper is also confused for a while." ”

"Where's the second butler? After the board, he went to the village on an errand. Give you half a year's work, if the errand on the Zhuangzi side is not clean, then go home to retire. Cao Song said.

Finally, there is still a hope, much stronger than Bai Er, Xiong Ren has mixed feelings, he can only honestly admit his guilt, and he was pulled out and beaten by the board.

Cao Song had already gotten up from his seat and looked at everyone: "This is the only time, if there is still a slave who treats the master as a slave of the northwest wind, he will be killed directly!" ”

…… In the blink of an eye, it is the eighth day of the third month, the birthday festival.

Sure enough, as the sixteenth elder brother said, due to the war in the northwest, this year's Wanshou Festival was just a formality, and there was nothing to do.

Cao Hao is still motionless, familiar with errands, and has become familiar with his colleagues. It's just that in the end, it is the Yamen of the Department of Science and Technology, and it is the business of the inspector, so every time it is to find mistakes from the official documents of the household department, which makes the atmosphere of the Yamen quite serious.

Cao Hao sometimes thinks it's funny. Among these six subjects, it is not the imperial history, but it is the same thing as the imperial history. He has been in Beijing for eight years, and he has not attracted several impeachments from the imperial history.

He was calm and relaxed, but the sixteenth elder brother couldn't sit still, and he went to the yamen every once in a while to arrest people.

Cao Hao knew that he was anxious about the 100,000 taels of gold business, and then said: "Sixteenth Master, now that the Ninth Master's 'trading' is just right, and the inner treasury is also full of silver, what is the hurry?" ”

The sixteenth elder brother lowered his voice and said, "I'm not in a hurry, Huang Ama is in a hurry." Even if the Northwest Army does not move, tens of thousands of soldiers and horses are there, plus logistics supplies, there are more than 100,000 people, and the cost is hundreds of thousands of taels of silver every month. This is still not moving, if the army moves westward, the supply line is lengthened, and the cost is still doubling. The Dzungar people are the most cunning, and they occupy the advantage of the terrain over there, and once the war starts, how can it be ended in a year and a half? ”

Cao Hao knew that the sixteenth elder brother was telling the truth, but his ability was also limited. In the past, every time, it was to take advantage of the situation and make some money. This is for Kangxi to make money, after all, it is not the same as opening a shop by himself and earning a thousand taels a month. Although he has a few drafts in mind, they are not yet mature.

Besides, he also learned a lesson from his father. You must leave three points of leeway for yourself in everything, so that you will not be unloaded and killed by others.

"The Sixteenth Master will allow me to work harder, after all, this is no better than the bidding of the Internal Affairs Office, there is something to rely on, only the principal, if you want to find a way to make money, it is not a matter of one or two kung fu." Cao Hao thought about it for a while and said.

When the sixteenth elder brother heard this, he nodded and said, "I also know your difficulties, but I am just a little more careful, so that the emperor will not complain." ”

"yes, I see." Cao Hao remembered the rumors he heard recently, and asked, "I heard that the Queen Mother is not feeling well, is she feeling better now?" ”

The sixteenth elder brother replied: "It should be okay for the time being, but looking at the imperial doctor's words, the queen mother's old man's body is not as old as in previous years, and she is getting older." ”

Even if Cao Hao guessed that his mother was a daughter of the sect, he would not have thought that there was a relationship with Xiaozhuang. Only because her mother's biological mother had been in the palace did the queen mother treat her mother differently.

In the bloody dramas of later generations, the Queen Mother has always been the role of beating mandarin ducks. However, the queen mother in the palace is not Kangxi's biological mother, and there is no rampant "mother is more expensive than son", so she should not be able to do that.

In Cao Hao's heart, he has regarded the noble culprit who was "forced" to leave Beijing by his grandmother as a filial piety.

Originally, he was also a little strange about these princes and brothers because of their blood relationship; Half a year later, I have recognized the reality.

Whether it is hundreds of years from now or now, blood relatives and relatives, most of the time, it is just an excuse. An excuse to reach out as a matter of course, to take advantage of it as a matter of course.

Cao Hao didn't have the heart to climb that high branch, nor did he think about climbing anything, but he had some respect for the old queen mother who really loved him.

Although I don't know how many years the queen mother will live, she is more than seventy years old, which is considered a long life among the ancients. After the death of the Queen Mother, the Internal Affairs Office has long been well prepared, and the longevity material was prepared more than ten years ago, and the paint is painted twice a year.

The sixteenth elder brother saw that Cao Hao didn't squeak after asking the Queen Mother, and he also remembered the relationship between the two.

He turned sideways, leaned in front of Cao Hao, and said with a little urgency: "Fu Ruo, call sixteen...... Uncle, listen? ”

Cao Hao picked up the brush on the kang table, knocked it on the sixteenth elder brother's brain, and said, "The sixteenth master is free, isn't it?" ”

The sixteenth elder brother was not annoyed, laughed twice, got up and went out.

Someone outside was watching, Cao Hao didn't dare to hold it up, so he had to send it outside the door in person, watched him go, and then turned back and read the official decrees of the household department.

There are those that can be sealed, and there are a few vague ones, which are sent back to the household department to redo ...... * Western suburbs, outside the Laojun Guan.

Hongjin looked at the ruins in front of him, only to feel trembling and speechless. It's been five or six days since the accident happened here, and when he got the news, he couldn't help but want to come and have a look. However, he was stopped by Honghui.

Even if it was plotted, it was only a "plot", and there was no evidence to show that the Taoist temple here had anything to do with their brother. Now that something is happening here, I don't know how many eyes are watching, and I look at it, isn't it self-contained?

Therefore, Hongjin endured for a few days, and today he happened to have something to come to Changchun Garden, so he took a detour to this side to see.

Lao Junguan had an accident, and the dozens of people who were raised here were destroyed, Honghui's side was shocked, and Hongjin's side was really annoyed.

You must know that after the prince's "two wastes", there are many people staring at Honghui, and most of these things outside the palace are taken care of by Hongjin.

After the "Tide File" disappeared, it was not easy to gather this little force, and there was also Hongjin's hard work in it. He is not knighted, and the only thing that can help his brother is this secret force.

Born in the royal family and grew up in the court, even if he knew that the throne was hopeless, he wanted to wear the hat of the prince.

Prince Makoto? Hongjin clenched his fists, his eyes dark.

Did they know that the "Meng Guangzu case" was a blow to this side, so they gave it a disadvantage?

He was silent for a long time, and asked the person behind him: "Xing De, ...... Isn't there any news? ”

Xing De is a captive person in the rivers and lakes here, and he is very good at his skills. Even if this stronghold is folded, Hongjin hopes to run two good players.

"Back to the third master's words, there is no news. It's just that the second master has ordered, and he told him to stare at the side of King Cheng's Mansion. On the night of the sixth day of the first lunar month, there seemed to be a disturbance in the palace over there, and the sound of killing was heard, but then there was no movement, and no details were found. The man standing behind him replied.

The matter has come to this, and it is useless to look at it any longer, Hongjin turned around and got on his horse and returned to the city.

Who would have thought that he could be so down. Thinking of the son in front of the "one waste" prince, Hongjin couldn't help frowning, and complained a little about his deposed father.

Okay, what a party. If his father can successfully ascend to the throne, as the actual second son, the little follower who follows his brother Hongjin will at least be a prince.

Although the spring is bright now, Hongjin's mood only feels heavy. Compared with the fledgling elder imperial uncles, the two brothers have a good chance of winning.

Just as he was thinking wildly, he heard the guard exclaim: "Third master! ”

Hongjin didn't wait for his senses, and the mount under him was already screaming and galloping. Seeing this, Hongjin pulled the reins hard, trying to make the startled horse stop.

Just heard a "snap", and the reins were broken. Due to excessive force, Hongjin grabbed half of the reins and fell backwards.

If it falls to the ground, it is specified that it will hurt the muscles and bones; But it is also extremely miserable for him to be stuck in his boots and unable to jump from his horse...... For a moment, his mind seemed to be clear, and he remembered the situation when the two brothers met when they were in Changchun Garden.

"Third brother, don't worry, this revenge must be avenged." The elder brother patted him on the shoulder.

Because there are still a few days, that is, his sister-in-law will always respect a hundred times. The elder brother said, "This is my cousin-in-law and nephew, and if my brother ascends to the throne, I will give my nephew a prince's hat." ”

At that time, Hongjin still felt that his brother was confused, Yongjing was the eldest son and wanted to inherit his title. If you want to add a seal again, you have to add it to your concubine, or wait for the second son to have in the future.

Prince hat, Yongjing ...... * Changchun Garden, Qingxi Book House.

Kangxi sat cross-legged on the kang, and the kang table was full of folds. Honghui was ordered to come and stand aside to study ink for his grandfather.

The bean green glazed inkstone in front of me doesn't look gorgeous, but it is engraved with dragon patterns. Honghui looked at the cinnabar imperial ink in his hand again, which was also a special thing for the emperor.

Now, it seems that he is only one step away from that position, and it seems that he is separated by thousands of mountains and rivers.

The cinnabar grinds open, and the blood-red color makes Honghui dizzy. Thinking of Hongjin, he only felt the pain in his heart. Who said that the heavenly family has no siblings? For Hongjin, who has been his ass since he was a child, he really treats him as a younger brother.

The words that after ascending to the throne and being crowned the prince, Yongjing was also his sincere words.

He looked at his nose, nose and mouth, and asked his heart, and he only felt chills on his body.

Kangxi looked at a few folds, looked up at his grandson, saw that his face was a little pale, put down the brush and said: "The face is so ugly, is it because the body is uncomfortable?" ”

Honghui knew that it was difficult to hide in front of his grandfather, so he said casually: "Yesterday, I followed Uncle Sixteen and Uncle Seventeen to shoot arrows for a while in the school field, and after sweating, I took off my clothes, as if I had a cold. ”

The matter of archery is the truth, and sure enough, Kangxi listened to it, and was not suspicious, nodded and said: "Since this is the case, send the imperial doctor as soon as possible, don't delay." ”

Honghui answered and came out of Qingxi Bookstore.

I don't know where a gust of wind came from, Honghui really felt a chill on his body, shivered, and looked up at the sky.

At this time, he saw his personal eunuch with a pale face, walked over quickly, and said in a choked voice: "Master, third master...... The third master is ......"

Honghui looked at the person in front of him, and only felt that the world was spinning...... On March 12, the emperor's grandson Hongjin fell from his horse and died on the spot.

The boundary of Hongjin's falling horse is in Haidian, not far from the official road, so when the horse was shocked, there were several officials who came back from the Changchun Garden to witness it.

Therefore, the news spread immediately.

Cao Yin's father and son learned the news that night, and the expressions of both father and son were a little heavy. The burning of Lao Junguan just wanted to take revenge on Xia Honghui, as a warning, so that he would know the severity and not put his mind on dealing with the Cao family.

Where are there so many accidents in life? The trick of falling from a horse has been heard and seen less over the years. It's Cao Hao, and he has experienced it himself.

Although it is said that the status of the emperor's grandson is noble, but the rules in the palace are that the little brother must learn literature and martial arts at the age of five or six. For a man who has been riding a horse for more than ten years, it is not strange to "startle the horse" in the case of guarding the sanitation?

The horses in the palace are not the same as the horses outside. When training, the gong is used. I can't be shocked when I take a gong and knock it the horse's ear, how can I be "surprised" for no reason?

Cao Yin's father and son are more "frightened".

"I didn't expect him to have such courage and cut off his arm." Cao Yin sighed: "In the future, Hao'er should pay more attention to him, and look down on him for his father." ”

Their father and son know the inside story of the burning of Lao Junguan, and they will not be suspected of which palace in the future like others. Who else can there be besides Honghui.

Lao Junguan's matter, dozens of lives died, whether it can be completely concealed, is only a five-five number.

died of Hongjin, but it only seemed that the two brothers were "bullied" everywhere. Even if there are some small forces outside the palace, the "ruthlessness" of the imperial uncles is not a grade.

After a lot of hard work, he not only got rid of suspicion, but also gave away a cannibalistic hat, so that all the princes were involved.

Cao Hao wanted to understand this, and he was a little surprised.

I think back then, when he was in the study as a companion, Hongjin was also there.

Even if he is a prince and grandson, he is also a ** body, and he can't resist birth, old age, sickness and death. The eighth elder brother of the year ago, and the current Hongjin, are all the same.

* Aoi-in, courtyard.

Tianyou held his little hands behind his back and looked at the flower bed in the corner. Amethyst was on the side, and it had already loosened the soil for the little girl. She spent half an hour picking out half a small bowl of sunflower seeds for seeds, thinking about planting them today.

It just so happened that Tianyou and Hengsheng came back from school, and when they saw this, they had to follow the seed.

When Amethyst saw this, he lowered his body and sent the jade bowl containing the seeds in his hand to Hengsheng. It's not that she's biased, but that Hengsheng is younger than Tianyou, and Tianyou's habit of being an elder brother lets her younger brother.

Hengsheng held a small bowl, but instead of ordering the seeds, he sent them to his brother, and said crisply: "Brother plant." ”

Tianyou turned around, shook his head, and said, "I'll just look at it, second brother." ”

"Didn't my brother say he wanted to be a farmer? It's still my brother. Hengsheng didn't listen, and still held the small bowl in front of Tianyou.

Tianyou still refused to answer, and pushed it to Hengsheng again.

Seeing the friendship between the two brothers, Amethyst smiled on her face and said, "Don't let the two young masters, let someone take a bowl again, and one person will plant half of it......"

(To be continued)